Heat Intensity and Warmed‐over Flavor in Precooked Chicken Patties Formulated at 3 Fat Levels and 3 Pepper Levels

Heat intensity and warmed-over flavor (WOF) were evaluated to determine the effects the composition of precooked, chopped, and formed chicken patties would impart on the perception of red pepper heat and the development of oxidation. Patties were formulated at 5%, 7%, and 9% fat with marinade formulated at 0%, 0.2%, and 0.4% pepper. A trained sensory panel assessed the heat intensity over 3 min using time intensity evaluation. Heat and WOF intensities of the patties were measured 5 times over a 9-wk storage period. As fat level increased, total time intensity and time to maximum heat intensity increased. Patties formulated at 7% and 9% fat were perceived to be more intense in heat than the 5% fat patties. Patties formulated at 0.2% and 0.4% pepper had less intense WOF than patties with 0% pepper level. Chemical measurement of oxidation (thiobarbituric acid numbers) indicated that increasing pepper content decreased malonaldehyde content. Incorporation of pepper into a chopped and formed meat product requires a higher pepper content at lower fat levels to impart the same level of heat intensity as in patties of higher fat level. Increasing the pepper content also will aid in decreasing production of malonaldehyde in a precooked meat product, thereby reducing the intensity of warmed-over flavor as perceived by the consumer.